Imagine having to build a noah's ark in record time. But that's basically what trainers at an aquarium have been debating all day. How would you wrap your arms around a giant octopus? Not to mention 12,000 other creatures. Abc's paula faris is there. Reporter: Images from inside the crippled aquarium. The october put exhibit. Fish tanks. Surrounded by flood waters and sand from the ocean's surge. And now, without power, this home to 12,000 animals, including sand tiger sharks, sea otters and a baby walrus, may need to evacuate. You can see how close, how vulnerable the aquarium was to the water. That's the atlantic ocean just yards away. While the area businesses were able to evacuate ahead of the storm, there was no way to evacuate all the animals. If the call is made to go, it will be a massive effort. One expert today said not only will specialized cages be needed, but evacuating a shark alone requires a 12,000-gallon fish tank. As for the aquarium's famous baby walrus, rescued from alaska, it was a massive effort to deliver the baby to the aquarium. He weighs nearly 250 pounds. Tonight, the aquarium says generators have operated some power. While we see heartwarming images of pefts rescued, now, the decision will be made soon whether it's time to rescue these animals, too. Paula faris, abc news, new york.

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